Is Your Workspace Hindering Productivity?

Help your employees by giving your workplace a makeover.

Did you know that the most significant factor in determining employees’ ability to focus is their physical environment? In fact, it’s been said that a well-designed office can increase productivity by about 20%.[1] A few low-cost improvements, such as those that follow, can make a very positive difference.

Adjust lighting. Bad lighting can cause fatigue, eyestrain, headaches and irritability, while dark spaces can actually produce depression. Consider using natural-spectrum lightbulbs, and make windows available and inviting.

Reduce clutter. A messy, disorganized workplace is unlikely to be as productive as a neat one. Encourage employees to keep their own environment tidy by providing plenty of storage space and organizers. Consider setting aside a day each month for office cleanup, placing large recycling bins around the workspace to encourage decluttering.

Get out the paint. The color of office walls — boring white, beige or gray — can lead to sadness and depression, says a recent University of Texas study.[2] Try refreshing your walls in blue — considered an excellent color for productivity. Bits of orange and other bright colors add visual interest and stimulation. If your workplace focuses on physical activity, give red a try. It has been shown to increase heart rate and blood flow.[3]

Check the temperature. You might think a slightly chilly office would induce activity. But it turns out that warmer workspaces make people more productive.[4] Ease off on the air conditioning. To accommodate personal preferences, map out your office to seat heat-lovers in the warmest area and those who prefer a chill in the air elsewhere.

Reduce noise. Collaboration is critical to a successful business, but work environments that encourage collaboration at the expense of distraction-free, focused work may be harming both.[5] If possible, provide separate areas for active collaboration and others for quiet, focused work.

Boosting productivity isn’t so much a matter of cracking the whip as it is providing your employees with a comfortable and pleasant working environment. Luckily, you don’t have to break the bank to do it.

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